Kids in camo, doves and teal

DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES The Reeves family decided to hunt a public field off Highway 77 when they learned our dove patch was drenched for the Saturday morning hunt.

DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES Rebecca Reeves, 8, announces the bagging of her father's second dove of the morning in a milo patch south of Kingsville.

DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES I'm not certain whether this is her first dove. But I know its her first dove of the season.

DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES This young hunter had to chase down this dove in a muddy field near Ricardo on opening weekend of the South Zone Dove Season.

DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES A group of hunters returns from the morning hunt on opening day of the South Zone Dove Season south of Kingsville. Notice the young hunters.

DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES This yellow garden orb weaver spider constructed its web near the gate of our dove patch. Notice the mosquito caught in the web.

DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES Tommie, a 6-year-old female golden retriever entertained the kids after the morning hunt on opening day.

DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES There was a slight mist in the air above our very green dove patch on opening day. But birds were flying.

DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES Rebecca Reeves, 8, puts ear plugs in her brother Travis' ears while standing beside their dad during opening weekend of the South Zone Dove Season.

DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES Found it. This young hunter bagged a fair share of doves during the weekend opener south of Kingsville.

DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES Several hunters south of Kingsville bagged limits of dove on Sept. 20, where the weather wasn't too bad.

DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES This young lady went back to the truck during opening morning to fetch a pair of boots. I'm not sure whether the boots belong to her or her dad.

DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES This gives you an idea of ground conditions at our dove patch. Actually the milo field wasn't too sloppy thanks to sandy soil.

DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES Haiden Mensik returns from a flooded corner of a milo patch with a limit of blue-winged teal. This was the same field where days earlier we hunted doves.

DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES A young hunter assumes a conspicuous perch atop a line of baled milo.

DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES Houston-area wingshooter Roger De Spain and his golden retriever Tommie assisted in several dove searches for fellow hunters during opening weekend of the South Zone Dove Season.

DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES Austin wingshooter Dan Grant and his vizsla pup return from the Friday morning hunt. They look happy.

DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES Game Warden Jason McFall paid us a visit on opening day. Here he checks a hunter’s shotgun to make sure it holds no more than three shells. It was legal.

DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES Rebecca and Travis Reeves return from a dove retrieve with their dad, Billy Reeves, during a drizzly opening weekend hunt.

DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES Becca Reeves, 8, was happy to be in a muddy milo field with her mom, dad and brother during opening weekend.

DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES Several days after the dove season opener we hunted teal down the road from the milo field. Here's Aubrey Black's lab Rocksy returns with a blue wing.

DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES Good girl! Rocksy surpassed 1,000 retrieves this past season. She's 8 years old and going strong.

DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES New Orleans wingshooter Rod Felder waits for doves to fly his way in a very green harvested milo field south of Kingsville on opening day.

DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES Roger De Spain and his golden retriever Tommie enjoy time in the field during opening day of the South Zone Dove Season near Ricardo.

DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES Roger De Spain was one of several hunters who brought bird dogs to our dove patch. The weather was fairly comfortable for the dogs, which often is not the case during opening weekend in South Texas.

DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES Tommie is 6 years old and spends most of her time in the field chasing pheasant. But owner Roger De Spain says she'll retrieve any bird he shoots.

DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES There is no such thing as a board kid in a dove patch. Here Travis Reeves, 5, makes a game out of retrieving spent shotgun shells for our group.

DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES A cloudy sunrise greeted hunters during the Friday opener near Ricardo. Saturday morning it rained hard.

DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES Tammy Reeves, a science teacher at Refugio High School, entertains her son Travis during the second day of the South Zone Dove Season.

DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES BB guns help provide early lessons in handling firearms and safety. And target practice can lasts until the BBs are all spent.

DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES Travis, 5, lasted until nearly 5 p.m. following a long day in the field.

DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES Travis Reeves, 5, takes a short nap during the afternoon hunt on Day 2 of the South Zone Dove Season south of Kingsville.

DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES A boy in camo and a Labrador puppy. Hopefully similar September scenes graced dove fields throughout Texas.

DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES Travis Reeves, 5, gained a new friend as his first day of hunting came to a close.

DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES These young hunters are part of the freshman class of Texas hunters. Usually this is all it takes to recruit the next generation of conservationist/hunters.